Need to spread awareness on organ donation: Health Secy

Civil society and other stakeholders must join in the efforts to spread awareness among people to encourage them to donate organs, a senior health ministry official today said."
While we have good medical infrastructure, legal framework, programmes and professionals, we still have not been able to meet the demand of organs for the needy patients. We therefore, need to understand the challenges and work on them in a positive manner," Health Secretary B P Sharma said.
Noting that organ donation is a "pious" thing and one must promote it, Sharma also expressed concern over the huge gap between supply and demand in the sector.

He was speaking after inaugurating a day-long national advocacy conference for sensitisation of state governments and other stakeholders on National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) to mark the National Organ Donation Day.
He also released the Operational Guidelines of National Organ Transplantation Programme (NOTP).
Sharma said that there "is a need for enhanced awareness among people to encourage them to donate organs".

"This requires involvement of the civil society, religious leaders and other stakeholders in creating awareness. We should try to provide affordable and accessible organ transplantation," he said.
Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Jagdish Prasad said lack of awareness is the main challenge behind less number of organ donors.

"The Indian Medical Association (IMA) at every level and other stakeholders should be involved to create awareness among people to donate organs," he said.
He assured the state health secretaries and other representatives that the Centre will extend all assistance in their initiatives.
He also launched the website of NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation).
Senior officials of Union Health Ministry and and state officials from Delhi, Gujarat, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Tamil Nadu were also present on the occasion.